If you’re a homeowner with a timber patio, chances are you’ve had to deal with some manner of stain or residue on your floors and surfaces. While prevention is definitely the best way to keep your alfresco stain free, it’s almost inevitable that accidents will happen so here’s a quick guide on what to do should you end up with some on yours:

Mildew

Mildew is a thin growth produced by mould that can be either black or white in color. To get rid of mildew, use a commercial deck cleaner or brightener. You can also use non-liquid cleaners (they usually come in powder form). Just remember to follow the instructions on how to mix the concentrate with the specific amount of water. Apply the cleaner with a brush or sprayer and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off and wiping the surface down.

Food Stains

If you’re like us you likely had the outdoor room installed so you could enjoy a good barbie right at home every now and then. If you’re even more like us, you’ve probably spilled some sauces and oils as well.

Get rid of barbie stains on your patio by scrubbing it with a degreasing agent (automotive degreaser works great) or a pretty strong household detergent. Make sure you rinse it all off before it dries up again.

Rust

For those of us who manage to get rust stains on timber flooring and surfaces, here’s a quick tip: cold water and some elbow grease can go a long way. For tougher rust stains, sprinkle the area with some fine-grain table salt rub with a slice of lemon. Just be careful not to scratch your boards with the salt (hence the need for fine-grain).

Moss

One of the tougher challenges you could face in dealing with stains on your patio, moss will usually reappear once it’s taken root. Temporarily though, you can scrub it off with a mixture of bleach with a little water. And while we’re on the topic of flora…

Leaf Stains

Just as with moss, you can get rid of leaf stains with a bleach-and-water solution and a good scrubbing. Unlike moss, the stains shouldn’t reappear on your patio anytime soon...so long as you keep your deck clear of leaves, of course.

If you are using bleach to clean your decking boards please be aware that it may cause some discolouration and you may need to restain the deck to maintain consistency of colouring.